An incident between Cavs and Warriors forwards Lebron James and Draymond Green late in Friday’s Game 4 was a topic of much discussion after James stepped over Green, which quickly escalated into a scuffle (watch video above).
The next day, regarding the incident, Lebron said it was Green’s words rather than actions that set him off.
“Draymond just said something that I don’t agree with”, said James.
Green similarly told his side of the story in his playoff diary.
“We had our words. I said what I had to say and he said what he had to say. Move on. I’m not going to sit there and argue with him. I know what position I’m in, in terms of double techs and stuff. Just move on from it.”
After the play underwent review with the NBA today, the NBA has decided to punish Green for his actions. While Lebron James was given a technical foul, the NBA handed Green a flagrant 1, stating that he made a “retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin” of James.
The penalty gives Green his fourth flagrant foul point of the posteason using the NBA’s cumulative point system for flagrant fouls.
Earlier in the postseason, Green drew a flagrant 1 for his takedown of Rockets forward Michael Beasley in the first round, and then a flagrant 2 for kicking Oklahoma City Thunder Steven Adams in the groin area during the Western Conference Finals.
With Green out for Game 5, the Warriors are expected to rely heavily on Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson on offence. Brandon Rush, Festus Ezeli, Marreese Speights, Andre Iguodala, and James Michael McAdoo are all options to receive more minutes with Green sitting out.
